Coil handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for conveying, compacting and strapping cylindrical rod coils. Each coil is moved along a horizontal support surface to a compacting and strapping station, which station includes an overlying vertically adjustable platen with strapping machines on either side of the path of coil movement. The strapping machines each include vertically adjustable strap track sections which cooperate with stationary track sections in the support surface to guide retaining straps issued by the strapping machines around the coil after the latter has been compacted by lowering the platen. After the strapping machines have been cycled to tighten, crimp and cut the retaining straps, the platen and vertically adjustable strap track sections are raised to free the compacted and strapped coil for continued movement along the horizontal support surface.

United States Patent [72] Inventors William J. Hill 2,420,498 5/1947 Pojman 100/12 Holden; 2,674,181 4/1954 Jones 100/12 7 Bernar L- B n Harold E- W w. 3.377.944 4/1968 Hill 100/7 [2 1] App] No gg g g Mass Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite l 22 I Filed July 28, 1969 Att0rney-Ch|tt|ck, Pfund, Birch, Samuels and Gauthier [45] Patented June 8, 1971 [73] Assignee Morgan Construcuon Company ABSTRACT: An apparatus for conveying, compacting and wm'cesteri strapping cylindrical rod coils. Each coil is moved along a horizontal support surface to a compacting and strapping sta-. [54] COIL ANDUNG APPARATUS tion, which station includesan overlying vertically adjustable platen with strapping machines on e ther side of the path of 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs. coil movement. The strapping machines each include verti- U.S-

Cally adjustable trap track ections cooperate ta- 1130/3, l 2, tionary track sections in the support surface to guide retaining [5 III-ltt straps issued the strapping machines around the coil after of Search t. 7, the latter has been compacted lowering the platen After 26 the strapping machines have been cycled to tighten, crimp and cut the retaining straps, the platen and vertically adjustable [56] References cued strap track sections are raised to free the compacted and UNITED STATES PATENTS strapped coil for continued movement along the horizontal 1,261,589 4/1918 Mogan et a1. 100/12X support surface.

PATENIEU JUN 8 l9?! SHEET 1 BF 5 INVENTORS WILLIAM J. HILL BERNARD L. BURNS HAROLD E. WOODROW BY ATTORNEYS PATENTEUJUN 8l97l 7 3583311" SHEET 2 [1F 5 1 EI 4 :I H 68b H 50 WILLIAM J. HILL BERNARD L. BURNS HAROLD E. WOODROW ATTORNEYS PATENTEB Jun 8 12m SHEET 3 OF 5 INVENTORS WILLIAM J. HILL BERNARD L. BURNS HAROLD E. WOODROW Y 1 3'4), W5

ATTOR NEYS PM'ENTEU JUN 8197! SHEET U UF 5 6 lli |||l||LiiF|L||| IIFILIII In! 11111: 4 A 1 INVENTORS WILLIAM -J. HILL BERNARD L. BURNS ATTORNEYS con. HANDLING APPARATUS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to coil handling apparatus and more particularly to an improved means for conveying, compacting and strapping rod coils.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a coil handling apparatus which embodies advantageous features and improvements not heretofore present in prior art devices of this type. One such improvement is provided by movably mounting the strapping machines and their respective adjustable strap tracks on guide surfaces which are removed from the path of coil travel. This avoids contamination of the guide surfaces by dirt, scale and other like deposits.

Another advantage of the present invention is provided by allowing the strapping machines to remain operatively positioned in close proximity to the path of coil travel. This shortens the compacting and strapping cycle by avoiding the necessity of having to move the strapping machines in from remote inoperative locations, as has heretofore been the case with known prior art arrangements.

A further improvement of the present invention is to be found in the provision of strap tracks having adjustable sections which are movable into operative positions independently of the movement of the compacting platen. This insures consistent accurate alignment and positioning of the adjustable track sections, regardless of the size and/or condition of the coil being compacted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for elevating the strapping machines to an upper platform above the path of coil travel, thereby enabling the machines to be serviced and/or exchanged with replacement machines, while coils continue to be compacted and manually strapped therebelow.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a view in side elevation with portions in section of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views on an enlarged scale taken along lines 2-2 and 33 of FIG. I,showing the apparatus at the compacting and strapping station at different stages during its operation;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, again on an enlarged scale, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the upper portion of the apparatus at the compacting and strapping station.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is shown a coil handling apparatus which includes a coil forming station A, a compacting and strapping station B, a delay station C and a final delivery station D.

A horizontal coil supporting surface 12 extends from beneath coil forming station A through stations B and C to a point adjacent the delivery station D. Beneath coil supporting surface 12 is a stationary support structure 14 having a horizontal rail or track 16 on which is mounted a carriage assembly generally indicated at 18. The carriage assembly is movable between a position underlying coil forming station A, as indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 1, and an alternate position underlying compacting and strapping station B as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. I at 180. The horizontal movement of the carriage assembly I8 may be accomplished by any known means, such as for example by employing a double acting cylinder 20.

Carriage assembly 18 includes vertically disposed guide rails 22 on which is mounted a vertically adjustable guide member or mandrel" 24. The mandrel is provided with rollers 26 which run along the guide rails 22. The mandrel is vertically adjustable through an opening 28 in the coil supporting surface 12, and this vertical adjustment is accomplished by means of a double-acting cylinder 30 which is mounted on a base member 32 of the carriage assembly 18. The opening 28 extends along substantially the entire length of coil supporting surface 12.

During the coil forming operation at station A, the mandrel 24 is adjusted to its raised position as shown in FIG. 1, thereby providing axial support for the coil being formed as a result of rod rings 34 being deposited in the coil forming chamber 36. The rings 34 may drop into the coil forming chamber from any one of a number of known devices, such as for example a laying reel or the delivery end of a conveyor on which the rings had previously been laid in an overlapping nonconcentric arrangement.

For convenience of illustration and description, a coil will be designated by the reference numerals 380 at coil forming station A, 3817 at compacting and strapping station B, 380 at the delay station C and finally by 38d at delivery station D.

Upon completion of a coil 38a at coil forming station A, the descent of rod rings 34 into the coil forming chamber 36 is temporarily interrupted by known means, such as for example by the movement of a separator plate 40 to an operative position as at 40a extending across the path of ring descent. Where the completed coil 38a remains connected to the rings continuing to temporarily accumulate on plate 40, a severing operation must also be performed to free the completed coil for subsequent movement along support surface 12.

The completed coil 38a is next moved out through an opening 36a in the wall of the coil forming chamber to a position indicated at 38b at the compacting and strapping station B. This is accomplished by operating cylinder 20 to shift carriage assembly 18 to a position underlying station B.

As can be best seen by further reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, compacting and strapping station B includes a compacting platen 42 which is attached to the extensible piston rod 44 of a double acting hydraulic cylinder 46, the latter in turn being attached by means of a bracket'48 to a rigid beam 50. As is best shown in FIG. 4, the platen 42 includes a pair of plates 52 spaced as at 54 and interconnected by means of transverse brackets 56. The space 54 extends laterally across the path of coil travel, thereby exposing the interior of the coil 38]; beneath platen 42.

When a coil arrives at compacting and strapping station B, cylinder 46 is actuated to lower platen 42. As the platen is lowered, the vertically disposedmandrel 24 is also lowered either by a corresponding adjustment to cylinder 30 or by cylinder 46 overpowering cylinder 30, with the result being an axial compacting of coil 38b as shown in FIG. 3.

The apparatus is further provided at station B with strapping machines which are generally indicated by the reference numerals 58a and 58b. These machines are usually identically constructed, and each includes a two-part strap track assembly having a stationary section 60 recessed into the coil supporting surface 12, and an adjustable section 62 movably mounted by means of rollers 66a (See FIGS. 4 and 5) on a vertically extending guide rail 64. The adjustable sections 62 include depending legs 68a and 68b which are connected at their upper ends by intermediate members 70, the latter being essentially identical in construction to the stationary sections 60 recessed into the coil supporting surface 12.

The adjustable strap track sections 62 are movable by means of upstanding double-acting cylinders 72 between raised inoperative positions as shown in FIG. 2 and lowered operative positions as shown in FIG. 3. When lowered to their operative positions, the adjustable strap track sections 62 are located and aligned relative to the stationary sections 60 by means of locating pins 74 extending downwardly from the ends of the innermost legs 68a. As shown in FIG. 3, when the adjustable strap track sections 62 are lowered to their operative positions, the locating pins 74 are seated in receiving apertures 76 in the stationary sections 60.

The stationary and adjustable strap track sections 60 and 62 are arranged to operate in conjunction with strapping heads" 78. The strapping heads are commercially available units which operate to feed a length of retaining strap around a track, such as for example the track provided by the strap track sections 60 and 62 when the adjustable sections are operatively positioned as shown in FIG. 3. Once strap lengths have been extended around the path defined by strap track sections 60 and 62, the strapping heads operate to tighten, crimp and cut the ends of the extended straps, thus securely binding the object being operated upon, in this case a compacted coil 38b. An example of the "strapping head which may be employed in the embodiment of the invention presently being described is Model G5-E6 manufactured and distributed by the Acme Steel Company of Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

As herein shown, the strapping heads 78 are hung from small carriage assemblies 80, the latter being provided with wheels 82 which run along rails 84 extending laterally in relation to the path of coil travel. The carriage assemblies 80, and hence the strapping heads 78 depending therefrom, are moved along rails 84 by means of short double-acting cylinders 86.

The strapping operation takes place as follows: either during or immediately after the platenr42 has been lowered to compact the coil 38b, the adjustable strap track sections 62 are lowered to their operative positions shown in FIG. 3. Downward movement of the innermost legs 68a of the adjustable track sections into the interior of the coil is accommodated by the space 54 between the two platen plates 52. When so positioned, the adjustable strap track sections 62 cooperate with the fixed sections 60 and the strapping heads 78 to define a closed path or track completely encircling the compacted coil 38b at two positions 180 apart. Thereafter, the strapping heads 78 operate to feed a length of strap around the paths provided by sections 60 and 62. Once this has been accomplished, the cylinders 86 are employed to move the strapping heads 78 inwardly towards the coil to positions indicated in dotted at 78a in FIG. 3. While the strapping heads are moving in closer to the compacted coil, the retaining straps are being pulled tight, crimped and cut. As soon as this has been accomplished, the strapping heads are returned to the positions shown at 78, and the platen 42 and adjustable strap track sections 62 are raised to their inoperative positions. While this is occurring, the mandrel 24 is completely retracted beneath the level of coil stipporting surface 12, and the carriage assembly 18 is returned to a position underlying coil forming station A, at which point the mandrel 24 is again raised to provide axial support for the continued formation of the next succeeding coil, which will now take place by virtue of the separating plate 40 being withdrawn.

With reference to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the carriage assembly 18 is further provided with a cantilevered arm member 88 extending laterally in a direction underlying the opening 28 into the coil supporting surface 12. The end of arm 88 is provided with a finger member 90 which is mounted for pivotal movement from a normally up" position extending through the opening 28, to a down" position beneath the coil supporting surface 12 when the back edge of the finger comes into contact with an object on the coil supporting surface 12.

When the next succeeding coil has been formed at coil forming station A, it is removed to compacting and strapping station 8 in the manner heretofore described by simply shifting carriage assembly 18 to the position indicated at 180 in FIG. 1. While this movement is taking place, and by virtue of the fact that the finger member 90 on arm 88 is normally in the up" position centrally located within the coil 38!: at station B, the coil 38b is simultaneously pushed to a position indicated at 38c at the delay station C. In other words, movement of carriage assembly 18 from station A to station B accomplished two results, namely, the movement of a newly formed coil from station A to station B and the movement of a compacted and strapped coil from station B to station C. After this has been accomplished, and while carriage I8 is being returned to station A, the back edge of finger 90 contacts the coil 38c and is thus depressed beneath support surface 12. This downward depression occurs a second time when the finger is again contacted by a coil 38b at station B. Hence, the return of carriage 18 to station A automatically results in the finger 90 being repositioned with a coil 38b at station 13.

The coil 38c at station C is transferred onto a conveyor 92 at delivery station D by means of a transfer mechanism generally indicated at 94. Transfer mechanism 94 includes a carriage 96 having wheels 98 running along guide rails 100. Carriage 96 is provided with a coil engaging member 102 which may be pivoted by means of a cylinder 104 between an up" position extending through the opening 28 in coil supporting surface 12, and a down" position 1020 beneath the said surface.

After carriage assembly 18 has been returned to coil forming station A, a cylinder 106 is actuated to advance carriage 96 to a position adjacent the ends of rails 100. The coil engaging member 102 is then raised to the "up position to engage the interior of coil 38c, and the carriage 96 is thereafter pulled back beneath conveyor 92, thus causing the coil 38c to be shifted to the position 38d on the conveyor. Coil engaging member 102 is then returned to the down position and the conveyor 92 advanced to carry the compacted strapped coil 38d away from the'apparatus in a direction transverse to the path of coil travel defined by the opening 28 in coil supporting surface 12.

With particular reference to FIG. 5, it will be seen that each of the vertical guide rails 64 is further provided at its uppermost end with an elevating mechanism, for example a manually operable winch 108. Each winch is connected to the underlying strapping machine (either 58a or 58b) as at 110 by means of a flexible cable 112. The strapping machine housings are each movably mounted on the vertical guide rails 64 by means of another set of guide rollers 66b. As depicted in FIG. 5, this arrangement enables strapping machine 58a to be elevated on guide rail 64 to a raised inoperative position indicated in dotted at 58a'above an overlying platform 114. The same operation may of course be performed with respect to the other strapping machine 581:. When thus elevated, the strapping machines may be serviced and/or replaced while coils continue to be compacted and manually strapped therebelow.

In light of the foregoing, it will now be seen by those skilled in the art that a number of advantages are provided by the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed. More particularly, and with reference primarily to FIGS. 2 to 5, it should be noted that the guide rails 64 supporting the movable strap track sections 62 as well as the guide rails 84 supporting the strapping heads 78 are located out of the path of coil travei along coil supporting surface 12, and are thus free from contamination by rod scale.

In addition it will be seen that the adjustable strap track sections 62 are movable independently of the compacting platen 42 and are thus consistently accurately aligned with respect to the stationary strap track sections 60 and the strapping heads 78, regardless of the position of the platen, which position is ultimately governed by the size and/or condition of the coil being compacted. Also, it should be noted that the strapping heads 78 remain operatively positioned in close proximity to the path of coil travel along coil supporting surface 12. In point of fact the strapping heads need only be moved laterally along rails 84 a very short distance to positions 78a while tightening, crimping and cutting the retaining straps. This short movement contributes to a shorter compacting and strapping cycle and thus enables the carriage assembly 18 and its vertically adjustable mandrel 24 to be promptly returned to the coil forming station A.

Finally, the ability to raise the strapping machines above the path of coil travel allows the machines to be serviced and/or replaced without interrupting the overall operation of the apparatus.

It is our intention to cover all changes and modifications of the embodiment herein chosen for purposes of disclosure which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for compacting and strapping coils comprising: a platen overlying a horizontally disposed support surface, said platen being movable between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operative position; transport means for moving a coil along a path on said support surface to a position underlying said platen; means for lowering said platen to axially compact the coil between said platen and said support surface; strapping machines operatively positioned on either side of the said path; track means cooperating with said strapping machines to apply retaining straps to the coil at at least two locations while the coil remains compacted between said platen and said support surface, said track means including first stationary track members located in said support surface adjacent said strapping machines, and second adjustable track members movable vertically independently of said platen from inoperative raised positions above the said path to lowered operative positions cooperating with said first track members and said strapping machines to guide retaining straps around the coil, whereupon following application of retaining straps to said compacted coil, the platen and second adjustable track members are raised to their respective inoperative positions to thereby free the compacted strapped coil for continued movement along said support surface.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support surface is provided with an elongated opening extending along said path, and wherein said transport means includes a mandrel member movable horizontally in a direction parallel to said path and vertically through said opening between a lowered inoperative position beneath said support surface and a raised operative position extending axially through a coil on said support surface.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by said strapping machines being movably mounted on tracks extending laterally of the path travelled by said coils, whereby after retaining straps have been fed around the compacted coil along said track members, the said strapping machines may be moved inwardly towards the coil to permit tightening, crimping and cutting of the straps.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further characterized by an opening extending across said platen in a direction transverse to the path of coil travel, the said opening being suitably positioned and dimensioned to expose the interior'of a coil compacted between said platen and said support surface and to thereby accommodate vertical adjustment of said second track members.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by means for elevating said strapping machines and said adjustable track members to raised inoperative positions above the path of coil travel, thereby permitting the raised components to be serviced while allowing continued compacting and manual strapping of coils thcrebelow.

6. Means for collecting, moving, compacting and strapping rod coils comprising: a horizontal support surface; a mandrel extending vertically through an elongated opening in said support surface; means for depositing rod rings about said mandrel to form a coil on said support surface; means for moving said mandrel, along said opening, with corresponding movement being imparted to said coil, to a second position for compacting and strapping; a downwardly movable platen cooperating with said support surface to compact the coil, the said mandrel being lowered to accommodate downward movement of the platen, said platen having an opening suitably dimensioned to expose the interior of the underlying coil; strapping machines at opposite sides of said coil aligned laterally with said platen opening, each said strapping machines including a two part strap track with a bottom part fixed and located in said support surface beneath said coil and the other part being movable from an upper position where it will not interfere with arrival at or departure of said coil at or from said second position to an operative down position extending through said platen opening to make with said bottom part a closed strap circuit about said coil; means for actuating said strapping machines to strap said coil at positions aligned with said platen opening; and means for raising said platen, withdrawing said mandrel downwardly beneath said support surface, raising the upper part of each strap track and moving said compacted strapped coil along said support surface away from said second position. 

1. Apparatus for compacting and strapping coils comprising: a platen overlying a horizontally disposed support surface, said platen being movable between a raised inoperative position and a lowered operative position; transport means for moving a coil along a path on said support surface to a position underlying said platen; means for lowering said platen to axially compact the coil between said platen and said support surface; strapping machines operatively positioned on either side of the said path; track means cooperating with said strapping machines to apply retaining straps to the coil at at least two locations while the coil remains compacted between said platen and said support surface, said track means including first stationary track members located in said support surface adjacent said strapping machines, and second adjustable track members movable vertically independently of said platen from inoperative raised positions above the said path to lowered operative positions cooperating with said first track members and said strapping machines to guide retaining straps around the coil, whereupon following application of retaining straps to said compacted coil, the platen and second adjustable track members are raised to their respective inoperative positions to thereby free the compacted strapped coil for continued movement along said support surface.
 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support surface is provided with an elongated opening extending along said path, and wherein said transport means includes a mandrel member movable horizontally in a direction parallel to said path and vErtically through said opening between a lowered inoperative position beneath said support surface and a raised operative position extending axially through a coil on said support surface.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by said strapping machines being movably mounted on tracks extending laterally of the path travelled by said coils, whereby after retaining straps have been fed around the compacted coil along said track members, the said strapping machines may be moved inwardly towards the coil to permit tightening, crimping and cutting of the straps.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further characterized by an opening extending across said platen in a direction transverse to the path of coil travel, the said opening being suitably positioned and dimensioned to expose the interior of a coil compacted between said platen and said support surface and to thereby accommodate vertical adjustment of said second track members.
 5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by means for elevating said strapping machines and said adjustable track members to raised inoperative positions above the path of coil travel, thereby permitting the raised components to be serviced while allowing continued compacting and manual strapping of coils therebelow.
 6. Means for collecting, moving, compacting and strapping rod coils comprising: a horizontal support surface; a mandrel extending vertically through an elongated opening in said support surface; means for depositing rod rings about said mandrel to form a coil on said support surface; means for moving said mandrel, along said opening, with corresponding movement being imparted to said coil, to a second position for compacting and strapping; a downwardly movable platen cooperating with said support surface to compact the coil, the said mandrel being lowered to accommodate downward movement of the platen, said platen having an opening suitably dimensioned to expose the interior of the underlying coil; strapping machines at opposite sides of said coil aligned laterally with said platen opening, each said strapping machines including a two part strap track with a bottom part fixed and located in said support surface beneath said coil and the other part being movable from an upper position where it will not interfere with arrival at or departure of said coil at or from said second position to an operative down position extending through said platen opening to make with said bottom part a closed strap circuit about said coil; means for actuating said strapping machines to strap said coil at positions aligned with said platen opening; and means for raising said platen, withdrawing said mandrel downwardly beneath said support surface, raising the upper part of each strap track and moving said compacted strapped coil along said support surface away from said second position. 